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The 2016 Presidential Race: Jeb Still Alive

When the election season began, oh about 6 years ago (but it seems longer) the common wisdom was that Jeb Bush would face Hillary Clinton. Since then their fortunes have waxed and waned. Hillary is still the odds on favorite and Jeb is considered clinically dead.

Since nothing this season has played out according the common wisdom, Jeb may be dead, yet I’ve seen deader. Let me be the first to tell you why our first impression was correct and Hillary will face Jeb in a dynastic battle.

True, there’s very little enthusiasm for either, but politics is the art of compromise and the art of the possible. Trump is not possible—not for the Republican Establishment. He is many things but a movement conservative is not one of them. He’s given more money to Democrats than to Republicans and only recently “converted” to Republicanism. His misogyny and xenophobia may attract the populists, but his policies, such as they are, are not ideological. Some are idiotic illogical. Let’s let Japan and South Korea get nuclear weapons. Really?

Yet the clarion call of “Lose with Cruz,” lacks a certain Je ne sais pas. Still, losing with your pride intact may be worth it. Trump cuts the heart out of the Republican coalition of social and fiscal conservatives.

The Republican establishment is not simply unhappy. They are panicking. The draft Ryan movement doesn’t seem to be going anywhere and Ryan made a Sherman-like statement, saying he didn’t want the job and wouldn’t accept a draft. He promised that someone who actually ran for the job would get the nomination.

Look at the language. If Bill Clinton taught us nothing else, it is to parse sentences. Ryan was saying no one would parachute in form outside, but, and it’s a big but, all the other Republican candidates who quit, didn’t really quit. They suspended their campaigns. This is a huge , or as Donald say YUGE, distinction.

In a way Jeb as candidate frightens me more, with all that Bush family clout behind him. At least we know Trump and Cruz wont win the presidency.

Bill

Well, Jon, you may be a prophet. Looks like anything can happen if gets to the third vote (or more). And Lazarus (a.k.a Jeb) may do it again.

Jack

I hope you are NOT a prophet. Jeb has never looked good to me nor have many of the others. Having said that, Jeb would probably be a better choice than the democrats.”selectees”. No matter who wins, we are in for a rough 4-8 years, provided we last that long.